Because of the scale of the housing market collapse and the subsequent economic downturn in the U.S., it is often easy to focus on the statistics and to lose sight of individuals. This article brings many of the individuals to the fore in showing how they cope with the loss of their homes and savings. It is a useful reminder of the way that major economic or financial events impact people on a day-to-day basis. The saddest part of it is that in many ways, these families are much better off than many who had even fewer options for housing or income.
"The Weeklies" by Monica Potts
Published in the American Prospect, March 26, 2013
Eric
I'm not sure how we're supposed to feel about that story. If anything I lost a significant amount of my empathy for people who have gone through hard times. The family made a number of poor choices and wants to do nothing but blame other people. At the end of the day you have to take responsibility for yourself. The wife could have gone back to work but chose not to. The husband could have stayed at his job but chose not to. They apparently could have moved to a different area but it didn't fit what they felt their status was. The banks certainly screwed people and the government didn't handle the bailout perfectly but I couldn't help and be continually disgusted by that family and the woe is me attitude. the worst was "They console themselves with the thought that they were ready to leave Westwood anyway. Bonnie remembers growing up in a nice, middle-class neighborhood, but now she says it’s more like a rundown border town, full of Mexican immigrants. She wants to move to Bear Valley, the neighborhood surrounding Drew’s school, where houses are a bit bigger, lawns are kept neater, and fewer ambulances are called for fights on Saturday nights." I guess it's good to know they are racists as well. Maybe this article just focused on a family that made all the wrong choices and wants to play the blame game but I don't feel sympathy for them.
ReplyDeleteI think your reaction to this particular family is fair. The fact is that many people who get screwed over are not likable people. This happens in many situations -- for example, prisoners, who face many abuses that have been discussed in prior longreads (solitary, rape, etc.) -- but it doesn't mean that what happens to them is OK.
ReplyDeleteObviously, if the point of the story was only to create sympathy, the author could have found any number of other people to profile. But this story eschews that basic narrative and instead offers a more complex story. That to me is part of what makes the article interesting. I don't really like them either, but to me it is still important to look at how people cope with situations like the U.S. economic crisis.
While I don't want to defend this particular family's actions or viewpoints, I will make two points about that --
1. The Westwood/Bear Valley thing is interesting to me because despite all that has happened, they still cling to the notions of the American dream that helped fuel the housing crisis (big house, big lawn, high property values, etc.).
2. Relatedly, it's clear that finger-pointing or scapegoating is part of their coping process. I think this is something that is important to remember. One would think that since so much of the country got screwed in the crisis that forming new alliances and consensus for change would have been a natural outgrowth. However, crisis and fear instead tend to make people more reactionary. The way that these divisions become a point of emphasis in times like this is very interesting I think to anyone who is interested in how new coalitions for change might ever occur and how things like racism/classism/etc. are perpetuated over time.
Eric
I guess i just don't agree with you. These people had plenty of opportunity to pull themselves out of trouble and chose to take exactly zero of them. I guess I'd just say it's a bad example of the article. The fact they won't acknowledge the truth and accept a new type of life they could afford in a home or renting is the someone elses problem to fix.
ReplyDeleteI'm not arguing that they made good decisions or that they are blameless.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of the article, I guess I framed it poorly in my intro. I wasn't trying to say (and I don't think the author is either) that this story is an explanation for why we need financial reform. It's more of a sociological study of how some people have responded. They certainly do not represent all people and certainly do not represent a model. But their story to me is an interesting one and a reminder that how things like this play out on an individual level are very complex and often counter-intuitive.
Eric
That's fair. It's also why i despise most people. I think their response is pathetic.
ReplyDelete